A/HRC/33/4 89. Spain congratulated Suriname for the transparent and democratic elections held in 2015 and the recent adoption of the new Penal Code, which included the abolition of the death penalty. It also congratulated Suriname for ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 90. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia welcomed the adoption of a national strategy to combat trafficking in persons. It encouraged Suriname to broaden the mandate of the national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles. It requested additional information on the adoption of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation and on whether measures were being taken to decriminalize defamation. 91. Trinidad and Tobago commended Suriname for efforts in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. It also noted the creation of a social system to address poverty and social protection through the adoption and implementation of legislation relating to the minimum wage, pension benefits and basic health insurance. 92. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed the progress made since the last review, including the areas of women’s rights, discrimination and gender equality. It welcomed the removal of the death penalty from the Penal Code, and its forthcoming abolition from the Military Penal Code. It encouraged Suriname to continue its efforts to legally recognize the land rights of indigenous communities and to ensure that indigenous communities benefit from public services. 93. The United States of America applauded the reform of the nationality law, removing provisions that discriminated against women. It expressed concern at the unwillingness of prosecutors to recognize the guidance of the November 2015 Court of Justice ruling that found the Amnesty Act to be unconstitutional, at insufficient resources to combat trafficking in persons, at the use of child labour in the informal sector and at the fact that the age when compulsory education ended remained below the minimum age for employment. 94. Uruguay thanked Suriname for its efforts to participate in the review. It welcomed the signatures of two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ratification of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, as well as the efforts to enforce women’s rights. It took note of the training of personnel for the national human rights institution. 95. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela noted the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. It noted that all children up to 16 years of age received free health care and free primary and first-level secondary education. 96. Algeria welcomed measures to implement recommendations from the first universal periodic review. Suriname had made major efforts in the area of women’s rights, combating domestic violence and ensuring equality between men and women, inter alia, concerning the acquisition of nationality. It noted the adoption of a national strategy to combat trafficking in persons and the commitment to settle the land rights of the indigenous peoples. 97. Argentina congratulated Suriname for the legislative reform that had removed the death penalty from the Penal Code. 98. Armenia appreciated the strategy to combat trafficking in persons and the abolition of school tuition fees, which improved access to education. It welcomed the efforts to recognize the land rights of the indigenous peoples. It noted that there remained a number of core international human rights instruments yet to be ratified. GE.16-11346 11